ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKI CATHEDRAL IS NOW UNDER OWNERSHIP OF THE BULGARIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

After 100 years of waiting, the largest Orthodox temple in Bulgaria, “St. Alexander Nevski” Cathedral, eventually became ownership of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. On 8th of October, the caretaker Prime Minister, Georgi Bliznashki handed the title deed to the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte. The official ceremony in the Granite Hall of the Council of Ministers building was attended by President Rosen Plevneliev, representatives of the caretaker cabinet and the Holy Synod.

Upon handing the title deed, Prime Minister Bliznashki said that on 1st of October, the caretaker government made a decision which he described as a historical act. The saga over the ownership of the cathedral had been going on for nearly 100 years, Prime Minister said and added that the most dramatic disputes took place in the recent 25 years.

He said that the issue over the ownership of the cathedral found its logical solution thanks to the shared and consistent efforts of the caretaker government and the management of the Orthodox Church. The Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte thanked the President and the Prime Minister for their help to resolve an issue, for which a solution had been sought for many years. The Patriarch emphasized that this was happening in the year when Bulgaria marks 90th anniversary of the consecration of the temple.

The Patriarch handed a notary deed to the Prime Minister, which gives the right to the Ministry of Culture to use the crypt of the cathedral which is a museum of early Christian art. The deed is signed for 25 years in accordance with the Statute of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, but in fact this right will be termless, specified the Prime Minister.President Plevneliev also thanked the caretaker government for the gesture and said he was proud that this event took place during the term of office of the cabinet appointed by him.